Well, had a great time hunting the new parcel. Didn't bag one, but had tons of action. Only hunted from 4:45 to 6:30 am each morning. (Spent the rest of the time finishing the cabin.) overall, happy as pigs in poop to have seen some much game up there.
Day 1 - 36F winds sustained 20-25mph. Didn't hear or see a gobbler. Though had 9 whitetail come through in 1 hour, anywhere from 15yrd to 60 yrd from my blind. Great to know for deer season.
Day 2 - 39F Fairly calm, got immediate responses, called a nice fat Tom down from the bluff. He snuck in to my right side (weak side) and wouldn't move into my field of fire. He strutted directly towards me to within about 15-20 yrds. I knew if I moved he'd bolt. Heart pounding, brain racing, I thought I'd try to inch into a position to maybe snap off a head shot. Wrong...instantly spots me and literally flies over my head LOL. Good times. 15 minutes later a get another reply from further down the bluffs. This one comes out on the logging road. Stops 80 +/- yrds. Struts in the middle of the road for awhile before walking away. I ended up getting back out for an hour at the end of the day and called a Hen down from the bluff. She walked to within mere yards of me purring and clucking, But no tom's showed up. Heard some noise behind me just before sundown, peeked around the tree I was leaning on and found myself eye to eye with a nice buck. He stomped, grunted and bolted away...... Overall a great day.
Day 3 - Beautiful morning 55 F. calm. Hear one gobble. Then nothing else.
Day 4 - Another nice morning 48F slight breeze. Called in lots of hens, but never got sight of any toms. Did get a Jake w/in 30 yrds, but passed on the shot.
Day 5 - 50 F Calm. Last day before driving back home for mothers day, decided to hunt an hour or so before hitting the road. Got 3 gobblers to respond from a ways off. Across the road on the bluffs on the DNR Land Trust. Closer with every response. Again, heart pounds with excitement. After 25 minutes I see movement across the road. Then 8 hens cross onto my property and proceed to move in my direction. Purring and clucking like crazy. The three Tom check up on the shoulder of the road strutting and acting tough, but not entering my land. The 8 Hens walk right in on me, spread out ranging 10 to 40 yrd. Finally the Toms start easing in. I'm now freaking out! LOL! Like day two, the Son of a Guns are staying to my right hand side (It's uncanny how they do this!), can't movie with the hens in front of me. Eventually the hens start moving back to the Toms. I think, "Great, once they get back past me. I'll belly crawl to a little knoll that would provide cover. Ease up and take a shot at a Tom." I count the Hens as they move past me...5, 6...7....8! Yes! I start to make my move into a shooting position and move like 1 inch. Then all hell breaks loose!!!! Bird running, flying. thrashing through the woods! Apparently there were 9 Hens with these big boys! One had somehow snuck in behind me and busted me big time! I was actually laughing out loud. Got out maneuvered by a Hen! The jig was up so I packed up and head home.
Overall I had a blast and learned some good stuff for next season (Like which way to face to avoid weak side shots...of course, then Tom's will make a fool of me again I'm sure!). It did my soul and mind good to get out in the woods again, even if it was just for a short while. The cabin's done except for filling nail holes and touching up the paint. I anticipate many good hunts down the road, lord willing.
Be well everyone!
